TU Delft, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, [A+BE] Graduate School    

Thermally Active Mass Ceramic Building Facade

Keywords: Energy Balance, Façade Design, Deep Energy Retrofit, Building Repositioning, Energy Use Intensity, Architectural Ceramics

Architectural Engineering + Technology Department /Design of Construction

Area of Research: Green Building Innovation Jason Oliver Vollen

PhD started in: 2013

M.Arch II: 1996 Cranbrook Cranbrook Academy

B.Arch: 1994 The Cooper The Cooper Union

Promoter(s): Prof.Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Knaack

Daily Supervisor(s): Dr.-Ing. Tillmann Klein

Research Summary: Conventional building envelopes depend on insulation and mechanical systems to maintain occupant comfort and do not adapt to the dynamic shifts in weather, climate or occupancy leading to high-energy consumption and inefficient building energy profiles. This research examines the potential of using a thermally active mass ceramic building façade as part of deep energy retrofit strategies to cut the peaks and fill the valleys of the typical energy use profile for commercial building repositioning projects.

Most of our cities’ buildings are old buildings; 82% of Class A office buildings in U.S. central business districts were constructed prior to 1990, and 53% were built before 1980. In New York City 90% of all the will be considered old buildings by 2020 where the average age is over 80 years. As the pressures of competitive real estate markets intensify and the regulations governing building performance become more aggressive, there is a significant opportunity to link thermally active mass building facades with deep energy retrofits.

Email: J.O.Vollen@tudelft.nl

Phone: 001 212 729 1187

Main Question: What is the energy use intensity reduction potential of thermally active mass facades in deep energy retrofits of commercial building repositioning projects?

Research Methodology: The structure of the research methodology is in 4 parts: 1) building façade design and component prototype that is used as a research platform to evaluate thermally active mass potential, 2) quantitative physical testing to calibrate energy and performance simulations, 3) design and simulation of energy models that show the effects of the façade on a) associated building mechanical systems and b) the energy use intensity of the building, 4) development of a decision making framework that balances energy efficiency, initial cost, and cost over time.

Deliverables: - Conceptual design of façade system, Energy model evaluating integration strategies, Decision making framework for deep energy retrofits

Key Publications:

Jason Vollen, Kelly Winn. “Climate Camouflage: Advection-based adaptive building envelopes,” Energy Forum: Advanced Building Skins, Conference Proceedings, Bressanone, Italy, 2013

Kelly Winn, Anna Dyson, Jason Vollen. “Thermo-regulating Future City Envelopes with Multivalent Surfaces,” 2013 ACSA Fall Conference: Subtropical Cities, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 2013

Updated: November 2, 2016